# Legal weapons in the country is more or less 50,000
# Political parties have more than 10,000 weapons
# Arms of 500 police stations were looted during movement
# 3,880 weapons were recovered across country till September 1
At the very end of the anti-discrimination student movement, several police establishments including police stations, outposts were attacked, vandalized and set on fire. Thousands of police weapons and millions of ammunition were looted.
These weapons pose a threat to everyone, including law enforcement. For this, the joint forces are going to the field from today to recover illegal arms.
On August 25, the interim government suspended firearms licenses issued to civilians over the past 15 years. The deadline for surrendering all licensed and looted weapons ends yesterday.
The law enforcers will take action against those who do not return the looted weapons of the police. Besides, the godfathers involved in smuggling to control drugs will also be caught.
According to law enforcement sources, legal actions will be taken against the dealers and users, including the recovery of looted arms, and recovering illegal arms. Especially those who have been seen with weapons in the movement, displaying illegal weapons and firing indiscriminately and the accused in arms cases will not be spared.
Bangladesh Army, Police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Force, Coast Guard and RAB will conduct the joint operation.
Meanwhile, in the last phase of the anti-discrimination student movement, about 500 police stations across the country, including the capital, were attacked for three days. Arms and ammunition were looted. Police stations and police vehicles were set on fire. In these incidents, almost all types of police activities were stopped. Later, all the police stations started functioning from the third week of August. However, the police are still struggling to fully operate.
According to a source, the number of legal weapons in the country is more or less 50,000. Political party leaders and activists have more than 10,000 weapons. Most of them are Awami League activists.
According to the police headquarters, 3,880 different types of weapons have been recovered from across the country till September 1. Besides, 2,86,353 rounds of bullets, 22,201 tear shells and 2,139 sound grenades were recovered.
However, according to various media reports, 1,898 weapons were looted from different police stations in the capital alone. Of these, 453 weapons have been recovered till August 24. The remaining 1,445 weapons have not yet been recovered.
According to a police source, 35 such weapons were deposited with 1,169 rounds of bullets.
AIG (Media and PR) of Police Headquarters Enamul Haque Sagar said, "We are preparing statistics on how many arms and ammunition have been looted from police stations across the country. Hopefully we can tell you soon."
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Mainul Hasan said, "On August 25, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification suspending firearms licenses given to civilians from January 6, 2009 to August 5, 2024. According to the instructions, if firearms are not deposited at the designated place by September 3, it will be considered as illegal arms. In addition, if any person has the looted arms and ammunition of the police, they have been requested to submit to the police station by September 3. Otherwise, legal action will be taken against them."
Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said, "You know that today the time for submitting illegal and legal all the illegal and legal documents is coming to an end. The operation of the joint forces will start from 12 o'clock in the night to recover the weapons."
ZH
